Staff news

Court meeting: 24 April 2017

The University Court held its most recent meeting on 24 April.

We publish regular updates on matters discussed at all Court meetings, during which members consider matters of strategic importance to the University.

 Meetings of the Court are held five times a year.

Governing body

 The Court is the University’s governing body and its legal persona.

 With a focus on strategic direction, it takes the final decisions on issues of fundamental concern to the wellbeing of the University.

 Detailed information on the membership and activities of the University Court, including meeting agendas, papers and minutes, is available online.

 Detailed information on University Court

Summary of Court meeting: 24 April 2017

The following reports are summaries of a selection of items discussed and agreed at Court on 24 April.

Pre-Court Presentation

Court received a presentation covering recent highlights and planned developments at the Edinburgh College of Art from Professor Chris Breward, Principal of Edinburgh College of Art and Vice-Principal Creative Industries and Performing Arts.

New Principal start date

The Principal-designate, Professor Peter Mathieson, will start at the University in February 2018, with Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea agreeing to remain in post until then.

New Principal

Extensions of office: Vice-Principals and Assistant Principals

Court approved the extension until 31 July 2018 of the terms of office of:

  • Vice-Principal High Performance Computing, Professor Richard Kenway;
  • Vice-Principal People and Culture, Professor Jane Norman;
  • Vice-Principal International, Professor James Smith;
  • Vice-Principal Data Science, Professor Andrew Morris;
  • Assistant Principal Religion and Society, Professor Mona Siddiqui;
  • Assistant Principal External Relations, Professor Susan Deacon;
  • Assistant Principal Global Justice, Professor Christine Bell;
  • Assistant Principal Global Health, Dr Elizabeth Grant;
  • Assistant Principal Research-led Learning, Professor Sarah Cunningham-Burley;
  • Honorary Assistant Principal Mental Health Research Development and Public Understanding of Medicine, Professor Eve Johnston; and,
  • Honorary Assistant Principal Cancer Research Development, Professor John Smyth.

Vice-Principals and Senior Management

Student Experience Update

The Deputy Secretary, Student Experience, presented the University’s Learning & Teaching Strategy, approved by the Senate Learning & Teaching Committee and following discussion at the December Court seminar. The strategy was welcomed, with a greater focus on the student experience in estates projects and progress with improving student communications noted.

Student Experience Update

Edinburgh Futures Institute at Quartermile, Old Royal Infirmary

The full business case and academic vision for the Edinburgh Futures Institute, Quartermile development, was approved. Progress updates will be provided at key milestones.

Edinburgh Futures Institute

Social Finance Investment

A proposal for the University to support its overall vision to deliver impact for society by investing in targeted social finance opportunities was reviewed. Court welcomed the overall principle of developing social finance investment and noted that individual proposals will be brought forward in due course.

Low Carbon College

Court noted an update on the development of the University’s partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University and endorsed planned work to advance the development of a Low Carbon College in Shanghai Lingang.

Low Carbon College development

Edinburgh University Students Association President’s Report

The EUSA President reported on activities since the last meeting and forthcoming events, encouraging financial results for the year to date and significantly improved responses from the annual survey of members. Court welcomed EUSA’s award as Higher Education Student Union of the Year in the 2017 NUS Scotland Awards and recorded its thanks to the EUSA President and Vice-President Services for their commitment to the Court and the University as a whole over their terms of office and wished them well for the future.

Other items

Court received a progress update on negotiations to establish a City Deal for the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region, reviewed the second quarter 2016/17 financial outturn, approved 2017-18 budget allocations for the Edinburgh University Students Association and the Edinburgh University Sports Union, approved nominations agreements for two student residences (Brae House, Abbeyhill and 38 Haddington Place), approved the Equality, Diversity Monitoring & Research Committee (EDMARC) Staff and Students Reports 2016 and the Equality Outcomes 2017-2021 for publication, endorsed a follow-up report to the 2015 Enhancement-Led Institutional Review and reviewed reports from its Committees on activities being undertaken in support of Court.

Further information on the remit and work of Court and its Committees can be found online.

Court and Committees